March 25, 2011 5:59am EDTMarch 24, 2011 9:29pm EDTUConn star Kemba Walker saves his best for the end Thursday. He scores 22 of his game-high 36 points in the second half to lead the Huskies over San Diego State.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The San Diego State Aztecs had trouble all season with prodigious scorers.

Their Sweet 16 game Thursday was no different.

Connecticut’s Kemba Walker, a strong Player of the Year candidate and the Huskies' Mr. Everything, started slowly but came on like an avalanche to bury the Aztecs, 74-67, in a West region semifinal. Walker scored 22 of his 36 points in the second half.

Connecticut moves on to an Elite Eight matchup Saturday against the winner of Thursday's Duke-Arizona game.

The Aztecs let another Player of the Year candidate, Brigham Young’s Jimmer Fredette, score 43, 25 and 30 in three games against them in three games this season.

UConn couldn't put away San Diego State, however, and the Aztecs staged a comeback after Walker’s second-half surge, pulling within a point on D.J. Gay’s 3-pointer with three minutes to play. Connecticut’s Jeremy Lamb then hit a 3 of his own with 1:42 to go, putting the Huskies up, 68-64.

SDSU's Kawhi Leonard, held in check most of the game, hit a 3 with 15 seconds remaining to cut the lead to three points, but Walker made a pair of free throws to ice the game.